Russian censorship tightens across streaming, publishing, and schools
Russian streaming services, publishers, and schools face growing censorship targeting foreign media, LGBT themes, and non-traditional relationships.
Russian media platforms, publishers, and educational institutions face growing state-mandated censorship. An investigation by Mediazona, reported by The Insider, revealed that online streaming platform Amediateka cut more than 75 hours of footage across 200 foreign series. Censorship excised over 7,300 scenes depicting LGBT topics, drug use, suicide, and incest, in some instances removing major narrative arcs.
Separately, Verstka reported that a Russian court officially banned the romance novel Heated Rivalry, ruling that its story of two male hockey players violated legislation against non-traditional sexual relationships.
Meanwhile, NEXTA highlighted new educational materials distributed in Novosibirsk schools. The curriculum promotes military service and sacrifice as national duties while criticizing Western cultural influences and non-traditional relationships.
Sources: Mediazona, NEXTA, The Insider, Verstka.
Sources
- Verstka — Суд запретил в России книгу «Жаркое соперничество», по которой снят одноимённый сериал о любви двух хоккеистов
- NEXTA — Пропаганда в российских школах готовит учеников к смерти
- Mediazona — 75 часов цензуры
- The Insider — Почти половина зарубежных сериалов на «Амедиатеке» подверглась цензуре. Из них вырезали более 75 часов контента — «Медиазона»
Earlier coverage
- Oct 23, 2026, 11:00 PM UTCRussia deepens content censorship across streaming media, literature, and schools
- Oct 23, 2026, 07:00 PM UTCRussian media, courts, and schools step up censorship and state messaging
- Oct 23, 2026, 05:00 PM UTCRussian platforms, courts, and schools increase censorship and patriotic messaging
- Oct 23, 2026, 11:00 AM UTCRussian media and schools alter content amid strict censorship laws
- Oct 23, 2026, 01:00 AM UTCRussian streaming platforms, courts, and schools enforce strict state censorship rules
- Oct 22, 2026, 07:30 PM UTCRussian streaming platforms, publishers, and schools face tighter ideological controls
- Oct 22, 2026, 07:00 PM UTCRussian media platform censors foreign series amid broader ideological push
- Oct 22, 2026, 11:00 AM UTCRussian censorship targets streaming content, books, and school curricula
- Oct 22, 2026, 01:00 AM UTCRussian streaming services, books, and schools face expanding censorship
- Oct 21, 2026, 05:00 PM UTCRussian platforms, publishers, and schools face expanding state censorship